It was a semifinal matchup between third seed Garbiñe Muguruza and Madison Keys with both players vying to reach their first final of the year. The pair had only met once before and it was way back in 2012 in a qualifying round with Keys getting the victory then.
After a long rain delay, the match eventually got under way with the American snatching the first set in a tiebreak. Muguruza kept herself in the match but it was Keys who found the late break completing a 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over the third seed. She sets up an all-American final against the top seed Serena Williams.
A close set decided in a topsy-turvy tiebreak
It was a nervy start by Keys who faced triple break point at the get go. The American shook the nerves off saving all three before going on to close out the opening game. Keys was again in trouble with Muguruza looking to find the break. And again, the American came up with the goods to deny the Spaniard to go 2-1 up.
It was Keys' turn to apply the pressure attacking Muguruza’s serve and earned triple break opportunity in the process. She only needed one as the Spaniard landed her shot long allowing Keys to take a 3-1 lead. That lead was immediately wiped away though as Muguruza broke to love after a poor service game from the American. The match was opening up now as Keys blasted a return winner to set up break point in the sixth game. Muguruza however, unleashed a huge serve to save it before the rain started pouring down once more and the play was suspended.
Play resumed after a short delay and Muguruza held to level the set 3-3. The pair were starting to exchange rallies as Keys too held her game to keep the match on serve going up 4-3. As the American held for 5-4, Muguruza had to serve to stay in the set. Which the third seed did with relative ease. At 5-6, the Spaniard hit a couple of double faults as she went down 0-30 but eventually regrouped to see out the game to bring the tight set to an inevitable tie-break.
With both players being aggressive, Muguruza was first to falter sending a double fault to trail 1-2. In an ensuing rally, Keys’ drop shot was well reached by the Spaniard who got back on level terms. The American though raced to a 5-2 lead with Muguruza making errors and hitting a double fault. The Spaniard fought back to put away a smash and a subsequent error from Keys allowed Muguruza to climb back to 4-5. The American though fired an outrageous backhand which found the corner to set up a couple of set point. Muguruza could only save one before Keys clinched the first set 7-6(5) on her own serve with a backhand down the line winner.
Double fault woe allows Keys to get a crucial break
The second set started off in close fashion with both players holding their games with relative ease. Neither player was particularly troubled as they tightened their service games. Muguruza faced her first test in the set as she went down 0-30 in the seventh game. The Spaniard pulled it back to 30-30 but the pressure eventually got to her as she was broken with an unfortunate double fault. Keys went on to consolidate the break for a 5-3 lead despite being pushed to deuce by Muguruza.
Even though she was not having the best of time on serve, Muguruza hung on to hold for 4-5 to make Keys serve for the match. As Keys was two points away from securing a berth in the finals, the heavens opened up once more and play was stopped. After a short delay, play resumed and Keys hit an ace to set up double match point. The net cord was in favor of the Spaniard who rescued one of the points but Keys who had been reliable on serve the entire match, came up with a big serve to seal victory to reach her third WTA final.